10:15a - Some Advice for Square
Repeat after me: Bits the player cannot control should be as short as possible. Bits the player cannot control should be as short as possible. Bits the player cannot control should be as short as possible.

On a note which just might be a bit related, the Bevelle temple puzzle was HORRIBLE.

Errata: Xenosaga escapes this rule because the cutscenes aren't part of the game -- they're complete anime episodes in between RPG dungeons. FFX, which thus far has had a higher cutscene-to-gameplay ratio, uses shorter cutscenes that start right in the middle of you doing other things. But the real travesty was in Bevelle, with very slow moving platforms that ride along for a while and then suddenly present you with a couple of seconds to choose your path. Horrible game design.